In a significant leadership transition, Iran has named Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) after his predecessor, Gen. Hossein Salami, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Vahidi, a contentious figure internationally due to his alleged involvement in the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, has faced multiple sanctions from Western nations for human rights violations. Born in 1958 in Shiraz, Iran, Vahidi has a long history in military and strategic roles within the IRGC, emphasizing his deep connection to the organization since the 1979 Iranian revolution.
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi Appointed as New Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi Appointed as New Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards
Iran has appointed a controversial figure, Ahmad Vahidi, as the new leader of its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps following the death of his predecessor.
Born in Shiraz in 1958, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi’s ties to the IRGC date back to the 1979 Iranian revolution, when he joined the corps during his electronic engineering studies. His military career took off during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war starting in 1980, where he held several senior positions. He later commanded the IRGC's Quds Force, responsible for operations abroad, between 1988 and 1998.
Prior to his recent appointment, Vahidi served as Iran's defense minister from 2009 to 2013 and as interior minister until August 2024. His controversial legacy is marked by an Interpol Red Notice issued in 2007, due to Argentine prosecutors linking him to a terror attack on a Jewish center in 1994, which resulted in the death of 85 individuals. The U.S., EU, Canada, and the UK have imposed sanctions against him, reflecting his contentious role on the global stage, particularly regarding human rights.
As Vahidi assumes leadership, analysts will closely monitor how his past and the current geopolitical tensions affect the operations and international relations of the IRGC, a critical institution in Iran's defense strategy and regional influence.
Prior to his recent appointment, Vahidi served as Iran's defense minister from 2009 to 2013 and as interior minister until August 2024. His controversial legacy is marked by an Interpol Red Notice issued in 2007, due to Argentine prosecutors linking him to a terror attack on a Jewish center in 1994, which resulted in the death of 85 individuals. The U.S., EU, Canada, and the UK have imposed sanctions against him, reflecting his contentious role on the global stage, particularly regarding human rights.
As Vahidi assumes leadership, analysts will closely monitor how his past and the current geopolitical tensions affect the operations and international relations of the IRGC, a critical institution in Iran's defense strategy and regional influence.
